UK Northern Powerhouse, a private group created to help promote the Government's plans for business development in the North of England, has appointed Quatro PR to manage comms for the group's first conference and exhibition.

The two-day UK Northern Powerhouse Conference, taking place in Manchester on 25 and 26 February next year, will bring together senior leaders from a variety of organisations across the North and showcase the commercial potential of the North of England in the global market.

Speakers will include Lord Prescott, business environment director of the CBI Nicola Walker, and Dragons' Den investor Piers Linney.

They will be joined by a panel of industry experts including chief executives from UKTI, HS2 and Lambert Smith Hampton, to provide discussions on key areas relating to the Northern Powerhouse from devolution to transport and infrastructure.

Quatro provides PR and political comms for the planning, property and infrastructure sectors. Managing director Gary Pleasants said: "The Northern Powerhouse provides a tremendous opportunity to attract significant levels of investment to the North and create real positive change. We are delighted to be supporting the inaugural UK Northern Powerhouse Conference, helping promote the project and attract investors."

Chancellor George Osborne's vision of a 'Northern Powerhouse' had been developed during the previous parliament, and James Wharton was appointed the first minister for the Northern Powerhouse immediately following May's election.